ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Christian McCaffrey left Sunday night’s game against the Bills with a knee injury, suddenly halting the 49ers’ best start to his already truncated season.
McCaffrey, on his seventh carry of that snowy night, ran to his right and intentionally slid for a 5-yard loss to the Buffalo 34-yard line. After a 5-minute exam in the 49ers medical tent, he ran to the locker room with his right sock pulled down to his ankle.
The NFL Offensive Player of the Year last season, McCaffrey missed the first two months of this season (eight games) with Achilles tendinitis.
It was his fourth game back, and he rushed for 58 yards on his first six carries, including gains of 19 and 18 yards throughout the season.
He appeared to injure his knee when he landed hard on the artificial (and cold) turf at Highmark Stadium, after being tripped by safety Taylor Rapp to end an 18-yard run 12:15 before halftime.
McCaffrey also made two receptions for 14 yards for the upset-seeking 49ers (5-6).
The 49ers initially considered him a questionable return before demoting him at halftime. Kevin Givens is also out with a chest injury.
The 49ers took a 3-0 lead on their first possession, which included a third-down conversion and later a 19-yard run by McCaffrey.
McCaffrey’s injury came just after a Bills penalty negated a Brock Purdy pass interception; this 49ers drive ended with a missed field goal by Jake Moody.
The injury-laden 49ers were without linebacker Fred Warner (cramps) when the Bills’ James Cook scored on a 65-yard run to open their drive that followed McCaffrey’s exit.
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